Stars

Stars are massive balls of hot glowing plasma held together by gravity. Our Sun is the nearest star. The stars we see in the night sky belong to the Milky Way galaxy. Stars are mainly made of hydrogen and a smaller amount of helium, and very small quantities of other elements like oxygen, carbon, neon, and nitrogen. Stars shine due to thermonuclear fusion in their core releasing energy that eventually radiates into the outer space.

Learn about supernova. At the end of its life, an exploding star leaves behind a debris field of stellar material and high-energy particles known as a supernova remnant. Supernova remnants are responsible for seeding dust and gas clouds that give rise to a new generation of stars and planets.